ETC HE Report 2025/17: Powering the Environmentally Sound Transition: Environmental Impact of Five Net-Zero Technologies
This study applies a life cycle assessment to evaluate the potential global environmental impact of five net-zero technologies: wind and solar, batteries, hydrogen, and carbon capture. Onshore and offshore wind, and mono-crystalline solar PV, typically exhibit lower impact per kWh than the European electricity mix, though material use and land demand remain significant drivers. The global impact potential of storage technologies, such as lithium-ion batteries and hydrogen systems is driven by electricity input and the carbon-intensity of the respective generation mix. Batteries display lower life cycle impact potentials because of higher energy efficiency. The footprint of carbon capture is also driven by high energy intensity. The Sensitivity analysis underscores the importance of technology lifetime, capacity factors, and electricity mix (including during the manufacturing phase of these technologies) in shaping the life cycle results. Scenario analysis reveals that deployment of net-zero technologies reduces global warming potentials and provides co-benefits for Ecotoxicity and PM formation but may introduce local impacts on resource and land use. Addressing these impacts is essential for a sustainable energy transition.
07 Sep 2026
Francis Barre (NILU), Elisa Pastor-Vallés (NILU), Babak Ebrahimi (NILU), Gaylord Booto (NILU)
